Chapter Text
The barren wasteland of the Freljord was admittedly a challenge for the two bandits. There wasn't much that could deter them from a good heist, hell they'd even go to the shadow isles, but the weather was proving harsher this time around.
"And you told me it's lovely this time of year!"
"I ain't no goddamn weather wizard or whatever, can'tcha just teleport us somewhere less windy?!" Yelling over the roaring gale was the only way to hear eachother.
"I gotta know where the hell im goin' to! And I ain't seen anything for miles!"
"Just- just teleport us somewhere up that mountain! We'll get a better vantage point!"
It surprisingly seemed like a good idea, a broken watch is right twice a day, though, so TF pulled the other man in as he produced a card and focused. It was easy enough with all his practice using it as an escape tool, though the thundering wind whipping past his ears was a challenge to ignore. Feeling an arm around his waist was a comfort, finding it easier to focus when his partner was around. When he was being quiet, at least.
With a flash, they had appeared on a cliff not too far up, just enough for a good vantage point. Stepping back they surveyed their surroundings, just more blinding snow over the vast tundra, and wind that seemed to be worse than where they were below.
"Uhh.. teleport us somewhere better?" Graves suggested, still holding the other close.
"I can't do that twice with both of us! I'm already beat from haulin’ this loot! I ain't built to be a pack mule!" He leaned into the larger man, truly exhausted by their predicament.
"Well I can't carry ya, can I?" Well he could, but they wouldn't be making it anywhere before the looming darkness. "Oh! You ain't too tired to do one of them other tricks are ya? Ask the cards if there's anything around here!"
Tobias scoffed, "it don't work like that you big dummy!" Though it didn't seem like the worst idea. It came almost natural to him that it didn't use up much of his energy, but he still really needed focus, and the bickering was just gonna throw him off. "Promise me that you won't be a smart ass, and help me out for once?" Graves had a habit of messing with him while he was trying to do his divination, always getting a laugh from pushing his buttons.
"Not like I wanna be stranded either!" The look he got made him hold back the rest of his complaints. After fumbling with the poncho he wore over his heavy coat, he pulled his partner close and cast it over his head, ducking his own head under the neckline so they were touching foreheads. The mood shifted as their breath warmed up the small refuge he had made, temptations creeping into Graves' mind, telling him to tackle Tobias then and there. The tension he felt whenever he was close to his partner was nearly unbearable, the need to pin his body against the other's was always nagging at him, a product of never wanting to be separated again. Alas, they weren't in the best scenario, so he pushed down that urge and simply held his waist again, eyes flicking between his lips and the cards.
"There's a refuge or somethin nearby, probably a cave, and it ain't too safe, but it seems to be our only option." Tobias deduced, showing Graves the glowing cards. Malcom didn't bother looking, not like he'd need anything more than his partner's word. (Not like he’d be able to deduce anything from the cards, despite sitting through drunken lectures about the meanings of each.) They lingered, Fate noticing where his focus was. He swiftly leaned in to peck him on the lips before dipping out of the cover and taking a few steps past him, "ain't no use in standin’ around!" He took a small joy in the pout the other gave, needing to get him back for all his whining.
Graves trudged alongside him, wishing they could've just stayed for a longer break. He noticed his partner lagging behind after a bit, grabbing his hand and making sure they were at the same pace, "we can't slow down now, you said it's gotta be near." He squeezed and practically pulled the man along, his nimble legs clearly not meant to drag through snow. When they rounded a bend in the mountain they could see a part of the rock was slightly indented further along.
Fate's exhaustion and Malcolm's thick skull had them overlooking the threat they were approaching, the latter even speeding up a little to get to the shelter, dropping Fate's hand.
"I told ya! Man, I've got great ideas." He boasted before arriving at the entrance, only to see his loud-mouth had woken up the Rimefang pack that had been residing there. Graves stepped back and fumbled for the gun that had been wrapped ontop of his gear bag. The silent horror that he couldn't get it himself had him reaching for the next best thing as the pack prepared to pounce. He unclipped a smoke grenade from his belt and hollered, "get Destiny!"
Tobias had just caught up to him and seen the danger, already jumping to grab the gun when he saw it was out of reach. The wolves were charging through the smoke, the leader diving at Graves just as Destiny was pulled off his pack, knocking him onto the ground beside her. Tobias threw a gold card at the wolf before unwrapping the gun and tossing her to his partner.
One of the three in the pack had noticed this infraction against its leader, turning its aggression onto Twisted Fate with a pounce. He heard a loud bang, seeing the leader kicked back by the shotgun blast in the corner of his eye, but his attention was mostly drawn on the teeth latched onto his arm. The wolf shook its head violently, teeth sinking past the fabric of his sleeves and finally piercing his skin.
A yell escaped him, hardly able to keep his cool in a close quarters fight. He didn't fret much, knowing he had backup and never doubting that Graves would protect him. However the thrashing as the beast tried to incapacitate him to get to his vital organs convinced him he was about to lose an arm. A blur flew into his vision, body slamming the wolf and forcing it to let go, then his hero turned back to the denmother, knowing the mage only needed time to grab a gold card and stun it.
After he gained his composure, he began whipping cards at his attacker. His takedown was less timely than usual, as his dominant arm was tucked close to him. He then assisted by stunning the other pack member while Graves loaded the denmother with pellets, then finished off the last wolf with one last shot.
They both let out the breaths they had been holding, then looked at each other in disbelief. "You ever seen one of those?" Graves motioned to the largest of the three, her glowing blue eyes dimming by the second. Of course Tobias shook his head, cradling his arm still. That's when Graves finally noticed the blood staining his sleeve, swearing and ushering the man into the cave and sitting him down. He helped him take his pack off and shed his own, then took a bottle of stolen alcohol from it before setting it down. He gently got him out of his coat and rolled up his sleeve, seeing the nasty bite marks that had torn up his skin with all the thrashing the wolf had done.
"Are you okay?"
Looking at the wounds made him queasy, so he just looked back up at his partner, "it don't hurt too much, but I think that's probably the shock." He watched him take off his poncho and pour the alcohol on it so he could clean the wound up, wincing when he thought of the stinging he would soon feel. First Graves cleaned up the edges, then held his hand, "this is gonna hurt like a bitch, alright?" He warned, and before Tobias could prepare he had clear alcohol burning his arm, squeezing the man's hand and cursing like a sailor. Malcom squeezed back before he had to let go so he could wrap the poncho around his arm. "We really gotta get you back now, ain't no way that'll heal well on its own." He offered the bottle to his partner, who swiftly took it and had a swig, cringing at the burn in his throat. It was a welcome distraction, as soon he would be kicking himself for not bringing actual first aid equipment.
"Why'd you let that wolf on you anyways? You got a quick draw, didn't think an animal would get the best of ya."
He scoffed at the audacity of his partner, "why did you blindly walk into a cave I told you wasn't safe? You didn't even have your gun out, I had to save your sorry ass!" Tobias knew he could have done things differently for a better outcome, but blaming Malcolm was easier and honestly the frontline was usually in the wrong anyway.
"Not like you stopped me! Didn't mean to make you all pissy, I just wanted to know what happened!"
"Well I just told you, I was makin’ sure you didn't die!"
"Fine, stop hollerin’, we're gonna get caved in."
Tobias sighed, hating when his partner was right. He felt himself shivering, "least I got you to steal all them logs from the village. Could you make us a fire?"
Graves nodded and got to work, taking the logs out of his bag, holding back a comment about how they could've gotten more loot if they hadn't taken them. After doing his best to position them in a pyramid formation, he realized something, "shit, how’re we gonna light this thing?" His partner laughed and produced a card, turning it red and tossing it onto the logs to light them. "I got another if you need a cigar." He offered, the tension broken as Malcolm sat beside him and leaned in with the cigar in his mouth.
Tobias hated the smell, but it was the outlaw's signature scent. The stinging odor somehow calmed him down, the mere idea of the man smoking it bringing comfort. He held his hands out to the fire to soak it in, leaning on his partner for more warmth. "I'm never coming back here. This was a disaster." He felt a big arm wrap around him and rub his shoulder.
"It ain't so bad, I couldn't think of a better person to be stranded in the cold with."
"Oh yea? Not just ’cause of my red card, right?"
"Well you do got that goin for ya, but I was thinkin’ more along the lines of who I'd wanna cuddle up naked to in a sleeping bag."
"Naked?"
"Mhm. If you're too warm in your clothes you sweat, then it gets all wet 'n' cold 'n' such." It seemed to be the only thing Graves knew about surviving in the cold.
"Oh is that why you only brought one sleeping bag? If I didn't know any better I'd say you planned for that." He elbowed him lightly. It wasn't a serious accusation or anything, but it wouldn't surprise him.
Graves chuckled and squeezed him in, taking the cigar out of his mouth to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Nah. It was just a bonus, couldn't afford another. Anyways, when's bed time?"
Tobias nudged him with a grin, "maybe once we eat some damn food and finish this bottle off." He took a drink from the bottle he had forgotten about, feeling his partner leave him to fetch something to heat up over the fire. He watched him place two potatoes near the base of the fire, then place a piece of meat right on top of the logs.
"..Malcolm... what the hell is that?"
"Uh- Dinner?"
"No shit, why's it on the damn wood? It's gonna get all ashy."
"Well pardon me, Mr fancy, I didn't think to steal any cookware. You get what you get." Graves rarely complained about the state of his food. He grew up on scraps (prison also didn't help) and he wasn't going to be picky, especially not in this region.
Tobias scoffed, "do I gotta take over preparation for our damn jobs now? You do the damn bare minimum at best, I basically do everything anyways."
Malcolm grunted, grabbing the bottle of booze and having a gulp. "Well, my bad I didn't have anyone to teach me how to fuckin live. Had to figure it out like the rest of us real Bilgerats, instead of having everything magically handed to me by free-spirited mages." Graves regretted everything the moment it slipped out of his mouth. He didn't hold any animosity towards the river folk, hell he barely knew anything about them. He just hated feeling uncivilized for the way he turned out. He had no community to rely on and learn from, instead fending for himself with little to no oversight from his parents.
He didn't need to look to know he was being given a death stare. He felt eyes piercing him, not knowing if talking more could save his sorry ass.
"You got no clue what life on the river is like." He shook his head and tried to think of something to hurt Graves just the same. " I'm just sorry if I expected some growth after 10 years in a cell. Take care of your damn self for once." He equally regretted his retort, once he saw the man grit his teeth and finally glare back at him. He was sure if he wasn't injured he would be on the ground having to pacify him with a gold card.
"Without them cards you'd've rotted before a damn year in there." He took another drink, "I'd take survival more than comfort after that." He flipped the potatoes and meat quickly, cooling his fingers on the rock floor after feeling the pinch of fire.
Tobias scooted back closer to him, his uninjured arm snaking around his waist. "I didn't mean to dig on you for bein’ dirty, you're a damn Bilgerat, I knew what I was gettin’ myself into." He knew they both enjoyed making digs at each other, but the tense situation wasn't exactly the time to complain about a bit of embers on his food. "I can admit, I keep holdin' you to high standards, despite knowin' how you are." His gripes weren't anything that deeply bothered him about his partner, even enjoying when he would have to convince him to bathe by joining him. It felt like a bonding ritual type thing, and sort of reminded him of bathing in the river as a kid, hygiene being a communal routine. "I keep forgettin about the locker. Well not really- just... I don't think about how it'd affect someone... you ain't supposed to get out, so what the hell do you do when you are out?"
Graves leaned into him with that statement. It summed up most of his experience being on the outside. He took one last drink before giving the bottle back to Fate. "Damn right. Don't think I ever truly got out." He felt a nod from the other, "I get that. Sometimes I forget I ain't Tobias no more." He still felt guilt saying the name, each time another betrayal to his past self. It didn't feel the same as when Malcolm said it though, as if the superstitious misfortune that came with holding onto it was cancelled out by his dumb luck.
"I wish I hadn't brought up your folk. Had nothin’ to do with you bein' stuck up. Can't blame a man for havin' standards after gettin’ a taste of the high life." He remembered back then, how each time they'd come back from a job, Fate was already looking at fancy garments before they'd even gotten paid. "You're as much of a rat as a snake could be." He mused, feeling his apology was accepted when a kiss was planted on his temple.
"Ah shit." He sat up and pulled the now charred meat off the fire, placing it on the floor then rolling the potatoes out of the coals. "Well, that's good enough I reckon."
———
After eating and almost finishing off their bottle, the mood had lightened up, both of them avoiding complaints so they didn't trigger another argument. After Graves put a few more logs in the fire for the night, bed time was approaching.
They laid out anything they could find to pad the floor below their sleeping bag, until there was nothing left, until Graves started taking his layers of clothing off. "Figured we could use the clothes as cushions." It was a smart idea, but as soon as Twisted Fate followed suit, he was absolutely freezing. He clung to Graves, whose body was able to hold warmth way better. "This is a terrible idea Malcolm.." his partner laid out the sleeping bag and they both slipped in, chests pressed together.
Graves wrapped his arms around the man's shoulders and rubbed his back, while tangling their legs together in an attempt to warm him. "Poor thing, all cold and tired from walkin’ all day," he cooed. Tobias pushed his head against the man's chest, basking in the affection and warmth, "say that again and I'll set us both on fire." He mumbled, flicking one of Graves' nipples and feeling a twitch against his leg.
"Hey now, I could just turn my back right now and stop donatin’ my body heat." Graves scolded, though he didn't mind the infraction against him, clearly. Fate shook his head immediately and buried his face into the crook of his neck, "don't you dare." The hands on his back went lower, and squeezed his butt. "I think you'll have to make it up to me, y'know, since I saved you and fixed your arm up."
Tobias fought back a catty retort, not wanting to risk having a colder night (though he knew it was an empty threat), but he couldn't give in that easily.
"I dunno, I think my arm's too beat up for me to do anything," it was his dominant arm that had been mauled, so it was a worthy excuse. "And like you said, all that walking and magic has me soo exhausted." He sighed dramatically, moving his head to glance up at his partner, checking if he was convinced.
Malcom didn't mind the answer, knowing the day had been a little rough for the other, but he still liked the flirting they had going on. "Sounds like you're sayin’ I need to make it up to you ." He saw a smile tug at Fate's mouth, "well wasn't implyin’ anything, but I am the injured one, so I get if you feel it's only right that I get a bit of extra care." He traced a finger over the larger man's chest, dragging it a bit too close to his nipple to be accidental.
He saw the look in Malcolm's eyes shift, and felt something else of his shift. Next thing he knew he was pulled up to be eye level with him and their lips were locked together, and their tongues immediately pushed against one another, no goal in mind except expressing both of their emotions, both seeing who could get the other more worked up. Malcolm was the first to start moving his hips, his erection growing against the thigh it was rubbing on. Clearly Tobias was beating him, knowing all the right buttons to push to get him going. It frustrated Graves to the point where he went for Fate's weakness, his neck. He nipped and sucked, making damn sure he'd leave marks, also making sure he was savouring every sound he induced.
It was easy to overwhelm the riverman, knowing his tactics by now. Tobias would remember every trick he'd learned about other’s bodies and use it to his advantage to toy with them, but Malcolm had a brute force approach, giving one area his full attention. Hands roamed all over his body in an attempt to distract him, but Graves gave no mercy, only stopping when he rolled on top of his partner and kissed his way back up to his lips. They seemed addicted to each other, unable to pull away for more than a second before leaning in again. Even when they felt like moving on, they just kept magnetizing towards one another.
He went back to kissing at his neck, just so their erections would be pressed close, making sure to hold them together in his hand so they stayed frotting, getting slick from the precum. It'd been over a week since they were able to get comfortable like this, both of them missing the close feeling and warmth of the other.
"I need you now Malcolm, tides, I need you inside me.." He gently pushed the man's shoulder's back, rolling onto his front and humming in delight when he felt the shaft sliding between his cheeks. When he felt the tip graze his hole, he had a realization, "Mal, we ain't got anything-" he was just about to sulk before he felt an arm reaching under their bedding, Graves pulling out a tiny bottle of oil from his coat pocket.
"You had that thing the whole time?"
"You know I never go anywhere without it." With a grin, he generously dripped some onto his fingers and lubed up the port where his ship would be docking. He pushed a finger in as deep as he could at first, curling it down to gently massage his prostate. He felt the man relax below him, hips shifting to feel any friction on his cock while his head rested on his forearm.
He fingered him slowly, adding a finger and prodding at his spot as he felt his partner getting more antsy. Tobias was shifting his hips backwards to feel more, small frustrated hums escaping him before he broke, "dammit Malcolm you know how much I want it, just give it to me!" He heard a chuckle behind him and felt the fingers leave, thinking for a fleeting moment that the outlaw would tease him more. After a moment of preparation, relief came as he felt the slick tip of the man's cock against him before he pushed it inside.
Graves pushed in as deep as he could go, then dipped down so his chest was pressed against Fate's cold back, planting a kiss on the back of his shoulders. "So glad I could warm you up, darling~" he cooed, then started rocking his hips slowly, responding to the impatient moans by upping his pace.
It was more accurate that Tobias was warming him, his insides hot and welcoming, every deep thrust beckoning him to stay longer. His rhythmic motion left them both antsy for more, each too stubborn to be the one to admit it. Graves was usually the impatient one, always getting teased by his partner until he'd have to humiliate himself by begging.
When Malcolm was ontop though, he loved twisting Fate into a blubbering mess, but this time he needed to see the man pleading more. Just as he'd begged for his cock, he'd had to beg more to prove he truly deserved it. Bringing his motions to a slow halt, he watched the man lift his head slightly, "I'm starting to think you're aren't as grateful as you should be, me patchin' you up and cookin' for you and such," he mused, "you think you're entitled to my cock, don'tcha?"
Fate’s lip quivered, almost biting back with snark before he recognized it as dirty talk. "Of course not Malcolm, I'm real thankful for you carin' for me.." he spoke weakly, "built me a fire and kept me warm all night, I really don't deserve you," he stroked the man's ego, rocking his hips slightly to feel the motion inside of him. When Malcolm threatened to pull out, he upped his flattery, desperation slipping through, "I-I want this to be your reward, take me as long as you want, I don't even gotta finish, just use me like a toy!" He blurted, more antsy by the second. "I wanna repay you for all you did, please just use me til you got nothin left!"
"Look at you, usin’ that silver tongue, tryin' to lie your way through this just to feel me inside ya" Malcolm teased, unwavering despite the flattery that had almost swayed him. Tobias huffed, having enough of this bit. "Of course I just want your goddamn cock inside me! I swear if you don't fuck me right now I-" a wail cut him off as he was finally obliged, Graves pounding him at full force, slamming his hips down as the slapping of skin reverberated through the cave. Tobias didn't even care how his hip bones dug into the hard ground, their makeshift cushioning hardly softening the blows of his partner colliding against him. He helplessly cried out with each impact to his prostate, his cock surging in both pain and pleasure as it was smothered against the ground.
As Graves got closer to his peak, a slight problem revealed itself. Where would they finish? Of course he usually came inside, but that posed a sticky situation that wouldn't be so comfortable for his partner. Malcolm however, wouldn't have minded at all, thinking it kind of hot. Reaching a decision, he slipped a hand underneath his partner when he had started sputtering that he was close. He lifted his hips and got a firm grip on his cock, not having to pump very much as Fate howled and gasped, tightening up moments before he released into Malcolm's hand.
The hand left from under him, Graves continuing his pace on the limp man before pulling out and cumming in the same hand. He stared at the warm liquid pooled in his palm, pondering before slowly bringing it up to his mouth and lapping it up. Easiest cleanup ever.
Once he recovered from the intensity, Tobias lazily rolled onto his side and gazed up at him, "what'd you do with the-" Graves licked his lips and grinned, his partner furrowing his brows. "You're disgusting" the outlaw chuckled, "Aw thanks" he then wiped his saliva coated hand on the other's chest, getting it slapped away quickly. "I hate you."
Malcolm scooched him over and laid behind him to spoon him "I hate you too," he squeezed him, kissing the back of his shoulder, "I say we go to Ionia to sell all this stuff." He muttered after a few moments.
"Oh yea? Why's that?"
"I hear they got them hot springs there, it'd be nicer than this"
Tobias leaned back, aiming to be as close as possible to the other for maximum body heat "I'd love that. Closest I'd get to having you in a bath" he teased.
"Hmm suddenly I'm reconsidering," he pressed his face to the back of the man's neck, breathing in the scent of him and his hair. "How's the arm?"
Tobias sighed "fine, kinda aches." Graves hummed with pity, "I'll find someone to fix you up. Can't have your good arm out of commission when we got all this loot."
"Oh yea?" Fate yawned, "don't think you can protect it on your own?"
"Pff, no, it'll just be hard protectin' you both." Graves planned to be carrying his shotgun this time, ready for anything.
"Might as well just carry me around then.." his voice was drifting off, barely able to stay awake with the long day they'd had.
"Well then we'd both get attacked at the same time. I'm thinkin' you'd be the damsel in distress. Some yeti comes and scoops you up, and I gotta blast his kneecaps and put one of them smoke grenades in its mouth to rescue ya. Then I rough him up a little more, just cuz he took ya. Then I check you over for any injuries, and then maybe I carry ya." He waited for a response, unaware that his rambling had put the other to sleep, which was typical.
Malcolm always had a hard time falling asleep, even when he was exhausted, if his mind started going it would keep him up for a while. He usually resorted to talking his partner to sleep, sometimes giving him little kisses when he noticed how cute he looked, but eventually he would tire himself out. It only slightly bothered him that Tobias would fall asleep in the middle of his rambling, especially if he was just getting to the good part. He'd thought about why he was like this a few times, he hadn't done it before.... It dawned on Graves that his mind needed comfort that he wasn't sleeping alone, never having made the correlation with his sleepless nights in prison. He told the man next to him about the realization, giving him a squeeze and getting no response.
-
When the sun hit their faces, Fate was the first to wake up. He didn't dare venture out to put his clothes on, comfortably held to his partner's chest, willing to stay there forever to escape the harsh cold. Malcolm however, wanted to get out. As soon as he stirred awake, he slid out of the sleeping bag and hastily donned his layers of clothing, pulling them from underneath. The other whined, already missing the warmth before pulling the bag tightly against him in an attempt to regain it.
"Come on now, we gotta get movin'" Graves was hardly a morning person, usually needing to be shaken awake just to consider getting up. This time, however, he was antsy to leave as fast as possible. He let his partner rest, for now, seeing how everytime he moved, he moaned from the soreness. Malcolm began packing their things until there was only one thing to pack. "Alright sleepin' beauty, just put the clothes on while you're in there." He retrieved the garments from under the sleeping bag and handed them over one by one, until the man was comfortable enough to slide out and put his boots on.
"I don't see why we couldn't have just cuddled for a little while longer."
"Aww, there'll be plenty of time once we crash somewhere else, cranky." He rolled up the bag and attached it to his sack of loot, then hauled it on his back, keeping his gun in hand this time.
Tobias took his sweet time getting ready, stocking up the cards hidden all around his outfit and finally pulling the bag onto his back."we better be outta here before dark."
To waste no time, Fate had teleported them down from the mountain before they continued east, their feet still feeling worn out from the days before. Tobias was worse off, his hips and glutes very sore from their night together. They both seemed to be on autopilot, only needing to move without thinking of where and how long they'd need to go. It was a fine strategy, until a few hours in when the wind picked up. It blew directly against them, forcing them to expend more energy to get ahead. When sprinkles of snow became daggers on their cheeks, they considered getting shelter.
"I need a break, Mal." The tall man huffed out, his ankles now on fire to add to his growing list of ailments.
"Why'd you even agree to come here if you can't walk through a damn blizzard." His legs weren't faring much better, but at least he hadn't been the first to complain.
"Just need to sit down, maybe we can wait this thing out.."
"You think this is somethin' we can 'wait out'? Knowing how you were this mornin', you'd never get up." There was no reply, cementing the statement's truth. They had to keep going, though their spirits were shot from the altercation with the wolves.
They trudged forward, heads down in silence for what felt like ages, until Graves was stopped by a hand around his wrist.
"I told ya, we need to keep on, we can't spend more time here than we have to." He glanced behind him to see his partner not meeting his gaze, looking past him instead. When he followed his eyes, he saw a tall broad figure approaching them.
Graves adjusted his grip on his shotgun, heaving it up when the figure leapt towards them, landing with a thud as snow showered the outlaw. Some unexplained feeling had Malcolm's trigger finger hesitating, despite the imposing Freljordian towering over them. He didn't carry a weapon, only a large shield that seemed to give him no trouble, and bulging muscles that suited his bare tattooed chest well.
Shit, Malcolm had found hotter men at the business end of Destiny, but this kind eyed man with a ridiculously large moustache was able to make him reconsider violence.
"Travelers, what brings you to tundra?"
"Oh, uh" Malcolm lowered Destiny, not needing to see this guy's bad side, if he had one. "Just touring. Y'know, checkin out the scenery."
"You are far way from home, pirates."
"We're on our way out, ran into a few problems that made us reconsider." He motioned to his partner, who held his arm in a makeshift sling.
"I see, this is not kind place to outsiders, Braum will help." He procured a biscuit from god knows where, holding it towards Tobias, who hesitantly took it. He hadn't known Graves to hold fire, but knew he always listened to his gut, so he trusted his partner's pacifism in this scenario.
Upon eating it, he felt a warmth as the dry biscuit went down. "Got anything to wash it down with?" The reply began with a booming laugh.
"Always!" A flask of alcohol was handed to him, a swig of it washing the crumbs away. Malcolm taxed the offer, swiping it and chugging it like water.
Before another word was said, three little fluff balls trotted up to them, sniffing at their ankles and circling them. "What in the isles are these?" Tobias knelt down, letting one smell his hand, before it licked him and nuzzled into his palm. He ran his fingers through the plush fur, grazing his thumb against its horn and smiling.
"Poros," Malcolm answered, "we got one or two in Bilgewater, ain't like these guys though." He seemed wary of them, though they were cute, he held a distrust for them. He was cautious around many magical creatures now, ever since the Yordle incident.
"Indeed!" Braum stepped past Graves and held out another biscuit to Fate, "feed him!"
He excitedly took it, the poro almost instantly gobbling it up with the same enthusiasm, he seemed to grow bigger than the others. "Holy, give me another!" He grinned, but Braum shook his head
"We cannot feed too much, is already too big. Come now, there is boats near." He used his shield as a makeshift plow, clearing a trail in the snow as he led the way, poros following behind as if they were herding the three. The shield helped to block some of the snow pelting them, making their walk more pleasant, especially knowing they'd soon be out of this place.
The docks came into view almost an hour later, and once they were 50 feet away the man infront came to a stop. "You are welcome to take boat, but," he looked at the pair "Braum needs the things you stole."
"Hell do you mean?"
"Braum is not fool. You stole from village."
Well shit. Of course it wouldn't be that easy to leave. Well, not unless your partner had magic. With a touch to his hand and a flash, Tobias had teleported them onto the boat, Malcolm jumping into action to start rowing away, his back towards his partner.
Fate sprung to his feet to start whipping red cards to melt the ice in front of them that would break against the hull. Each time Graves leaned back to row them along, he bumped against something, something that then squeezed beside him and crawled into his lap. The poro.
"Oh F- Tobias!" He called, "we got a problem!" He watched it pawing at his pockets, before staring into his soul with them big beady eyes.
"What is it now? Big guy comin’ after us?"
"Uh, not exactly, one of them fuzzballs hitched a ride.." he heard the cards stop, then felt a presence looming behind him "how in-” he couldn’t believe he’d missed it when they’d first shifted onto the boat. “It must've been touchin' us when we teleported," he sighed, "do we bring it back?”
"Back there? Hell no! Don't wanna know what he can do with that shield."
"Well what the hell do we feed it?"
Graves pursed his lips "I uh, I stole some of them cookies.." He admitted, "that might be why he's all over me."
"Malcolm you idiot!"
"What? You seemed better after you ate it! Didn't even complain about the walk!"
"Well-" he scoffed, "yea but now you got us a damn pet!" He turned and started melting the ice with his cards again, a smile forming when he processed the caring gesture, "thanks, though."
"Ain't gonna heal you much anymore, we gotta feed this guy now."
"What's his name?"
"I don't know, ain't ever had a pet. Maybe pickpocket?"
"That's a terrible name. You wanna name him after a crime?"
"Well he's gonna be trained in the family business ain't he, why not give him a suitable name?"
He couldn't believe he was actually considering keeping this thing. He'd never had a pet, despite how many times he'd tried taming wharf rats on the docks. Those things were vicious, it was kind of a dream of his to have one by his side. But this thing was the opposite of a wharf rat, no sharp teeth or violent disposition.
He was already plotting how to train the poro to mug people though. Or perhaps for now he was an alright distraction he could show off while Tobias robbed them blind. Man why hadn't they thought of kidnapping a poro before?
"Grand Larceny?" Tobias suggested.
"Grand Theft Poro."
"Yea, no. We can shorten Grand Larceny to Larry."
"Fine. But next time we steal an animal, I'm naming it."